Perhaps the main confession to be had here is how prosaic and unglamorous the world of secondhand bookselling is. Much time is spent unpacking books, listing them on computers and then repacking them, travelling to houses to sort through book collections and negotiating payments, and occasionally selling books to customers (although the ones who are gladly prepared to hand over the marked price seem rare indeed). Yet Shaun Bythell's economical writing style shot through with gentle humour does bring the subject and his world to life. Peopled with eccentric characters you suspect he hasn't embellished much, Bythell himself remains reserved, a bit of a mystery as he somehow resists becoming a character in his own story. This detached perspective perhaps makes for a less exciting read, but there is a lot of pleasure to be had here in the insight he allows us into his world. The book is peppered through with quotations from a book called 'The Intimate Thoughts of John Baxter, Bookseller' by one Augustus Muir, published in 1942. Bythell contrast's Muir's observations about his customers with his own, sometimes amusingly, sometimes with a larger point to make about the general decline of the bookselling trade as it has been decimated by the growth of Amazon. An enjoyable read, then, but also a thought-provoking one, reminding us of something that we should cherish, before it becomes a thing of the past. Anyone who enjoyed The Diary of a Bookseller will love this follow up.

Reader, let's peek inside the mind of Shaun Bythell, owner of The Bookshop located in Wigtown, Scotland in his follow-up book to The Diary of a Bookseller.

Confessions of a Bookseller chronicles a year in the life of Bythell beginning in January 2015 and ending on December 31st of that year. The story focuses on his personal thoughts and reflections throughout the year sometimes elaborating on specific moments and other times only saying what is needed without explanation. Each clip of the day features the thoughts, accounts, and happenings, of which, I felt would be a bit boring about fifteen pages into the book. However, as I kept reading, I noticed that the format of the entries, starting with the online orders and ending with the amount sold in the day, kept a pace and routine for reading.

Likewise, Bythell's sarcasm is infectious as it should be with a book labelled as "Confessions." While some readers may find it off-putting that Bythell comments on the stupidity of some customers in his retail life, I would gently offer them a stint in working retail so they can see why these situations would be nothing less of an eye roll. However, Bythell comes from a unique point of view wherein he has to elate customers by purchasing as well as selling in that he runs a used bookshop of antiquities (a word that has multiple meanings ranging from mundane to high-brow rationality). I especially enjoyed the way Bythell infused his trouble with online platforms and technology as a vein for readers to follow as they experience a year in his life.

One of the most exceptional parts of the story comes in Bythell's journals as a reader. I found myself taking note of the various titles he mentions and searching for copies for myself. Bythell stops periodically to reflect on his own personal readings as he continues the narrative of his life as a bookshop owner often times finding a pathway that connects the two experiences making real-world lasting evaluations.

Along with his main bookshop, Bythell manages The Open Book which he describes "is run as an Airbnb which anyone can rent in order to experience running a bookshop for a week" (loc 101). Many interesting relationships are afforded through this unique opportunity.

Perhaps one of the best relationships (not exactly a part of The Open Book) is that of an Italian woman dubbed "Granny" who is nothing less of entertaining as her neurotic tendencies and infectious demeanor lead her to a longer stint at The Bookshop. There were laugh-out-loud moments with Granny as she becomes better acclimated to the English language and finds an outlet in verbose obscenities.

I found Bythell's account to be real without applying a thick guard against saying what is on the mind perhaps because of my own desire to own a bookstore or the basic nature of living vicariously through the life of someone living in a much different setting than myself. Either way, I would recommend the book for readers who need a reminder that there are other lives out there existing beyond our small bubbles. Additionally, I would throw this book in the hands of anyone who has ever worked or owned retail as a therapy in itself.

Readers, you can pick up your copy of Confessions of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell on August 29, 2019.

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐3/4

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced reader's copy of this book. Shaun Bythell would probably be disgusted that I had to read it on a Kindle. :-) Can we make a mug for that?

My favorite kind of book- one based on bookstores or libraries! I think any of us who actually work in wither could write our own tales. I enjoy discovering that there are others dealing with the same types of patrons as I do. Quirky ones, to be polite. And then there are other scarier types....But, these journal type books are such a hoot! They give a whole other perspective to our chosen fields! Kudos Shaun Bythell! Fun quick read for summer! Take it to the beach! I'm off to locate book one.

'I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.' So grateful to netgalley for an early copy of this book. I adored Shaun Bythell’s first book “ The diary of a bookseller” and this follow up is just as good. I will be buying a copy as soon as it released to give to my mum to read as she also loved his first book. I hope he keeps producing these diaries as the humour and descriptive detail about the realities of running a book shop allows the reader to feel as though they are there working in the shop too.

A cute read, and my first novel to read by this author. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to review it. I personally feel this would be better read in paper format, as the digital copy was mashed together and did not create a pleasant reading experience. But overall, I'm grateful to be given the opportunity to read this book.

I have read both books in the series and have the exact same thoughts on both.

I love the bookstore stories. The customers, the online sales of books, the book buying trips and, of course, Captain. I would have continued reading hundreds and hundreds of pages on the above subjects.

What I struggle with though, is the fact that the author is not particularly likable. In fact, I am reminded of a saying I heard recently "all that brooding intensity is just annoying sometimes". That is exactly how I feel about the author and since he is an integral part of the story, I found myself turned off by the stories that are directly connected to him.

In fact, the weakest parts of this book are the characters. Yes, I know that bookstores are known for being eclectic, but I don't understand how a boss can tolerate employees who basically do what they want, which includes calling him names and blatantly disregarding his instructions (not to mention coming in late or not at all).

The part that is absolutely worth reading are the bits featuring conversations about books. Books purchased and sold and I love, love the stories about visiting various homes and buying collection of books. I wish there would have been a lot more focus on this topic and less on who is sleeping where for the "festival".

This book is well written (in diary form) and, for the most part, is fun.

I, again, wonder how he makes all his money. According to his "till" totals, there is no way he should be able to buy all the books he does, not to mention all the other expenses he seems to pay off without a care in the world about $.

I always find his books incomplete, like we are missing pieces of the puzzle for it to all make sense.

As an avid book reader, secondhand bookshops hold a certain wonder for me. It’s nearly impossible for me to walk past one, or a person selling secondhand books on the street, without stopping to peruse even when I have no money to spare. That probably makes me a bit of a nightmare customer but what can I do.

Confessions of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell was an enchanting read. It details the daily routine of running a secondhand bookshop. Although it became repetitive after a while there was just something that kept me reading. Shaun runs the bookshop with an assortment of wild assistants, from the Jehovah’s Witness who brings him food from the clearance rack to the snotty girl who’d rather be anywhere else but The Bookshop.

The book has its incredibly funny and ridiculous moments. I love books about books and this one was no exception. Although it does get a little tired after a while, when I finished the book I felt like I was saying goodbye. I’d recommend this book to anyone who is absolutely fascinated by secondhand book shops and books in general.

This picks up right where The Diary of a Bookseller left off and carries through the whole of 2015. So long as you keep in mind that this is more of the same stuff – the daily routines of buying and selling books, including customers’ and colleagues’ quirks, and of being out and about in a small town – and you aren’t looking for big thrills in your reading, you should enjoy it. Some may find the built-in repetition boring, while for others it will be comforting. I read this on a summer trip to Milan and found it unexpectedly addictive; I certainly wished that I was in Wigtown instead of a sweltering city! Also, because of where I was reading the book I got particular enjoyment out of the characterization of Emanuela (soon known as “Granny” for her poor eyesight and myriad aches and gripes), who comes over from Italy to volunteer in the bookshop for the summer.

Bythell’s break-up with “Anna” is a recurring theme in this volume, I suspect because his editor/publisher insisted on an injection of emotional drama; he strikes me as someone who would have kept this part of his life completely private if he had the choice. The month-heading epigraphs are all from Augustus Muir’s The Intimate Thoughts of John Baxter, Bookseller this time. Once again we get a full accounting of each day’s sales and customer numbers, with delightful anecdotes about his weirder encounters with the public (and Nicky) and notes about his reading and any escapes from the town for fishing, book buying excursions or brief vacations. If you loved the first book, go ahead and read the sequel. Just don’t expect it to break any new ground. (3.5 stars)

This book was well written, but disappointing. I wish I had been pulled in by the charms of the writing, but the subject matter didn't strike my fancy.
It was less a diary of a bookseller, and more of a diary of a human who so happens to work in the book trade.

My rating : 3 stars

I made the mistake of reading Confessions of a Bookseller beside a snoring husband who is a light sleeper. I had to cover my face with my pillow to stop myself from bursting out with laughter! I was thankful that the bed did not shake with my heaving silently-laughing body and wake him up!

Such was the hilarity I encountered while reading Shaun Bythell's second book about life as a second-hand bookseller in Wigtown, Scotland.

As you can probably tell, I very much enjoyed the book. Unfortunately, though, after the first half I found myself wondering when the book would end. The second half was almost just a repetition of the first half - minus all the wonderful stories - about the books that customers bought or asked for, and about his trips outside to buy more books. I had no interest at all in the description of the annual book festival, for some reason.

So, five stars for the first half and a dismal 2 stars for the second half.

Having said all that, the book did make Scotland sound so interesting – particularly small towns like Wigtown - and I hope I can visit that part of the world again soon. I also hope the plan to turn his first book into a movie becomes a reality. Bravo to the author for putting the book town on the map!

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the review copy. This is my honest review.

Confessions of a Bookseller is absolutely delightful. Warm and witty and it left me wanting to go to Scotland,.

As a former bookseller, I was captivated with this read. I enjoyed reading about quirky customers and employees and the day-to-day of a second hand bookstore, as well as the bonus facts,

Shaun Bythell, bookshop owner and curmudgeon, is back! More of the quirky stories of his staff and customers made me giggle out loud on several occasions.
Old favourites such as staff member Nicky and her foodie fridays, and new ones too such as the hugely entertaining Italian young eccentric, Granny.
I wouldn’t dare visit Shaun’s shop for fear of being parodied along with most of his hapless, penny-pinching customers, but it’s enormous fun to read about them.
There’s also a sadness that perhaps wasn’t there in his first book, as he moves into friendship rather than a romantic relationship with Anna.
Thoroughly recommended, especially for those with a healthy dislike of Amazon.

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Having thoroughly enjoyed 'Diary of a Bookseller' I was very excited to be approved to read a copy of its follow-up and it did not disappoint. It was lovely to read more of Shaun and co's antics in the bookshop and in Wigtown, including the return of Sandy the Tattooed Pagan, Nicky, Anna, and the new (I think) 'Mole Man' and the hilarious 'Granny'.

This truly is a giggle aloud read, and I found myself reading bits aloud to my husband as they amused me. However there is also a sadder, more reflective side to this volume as Shaun opens up about some of his insecurities and sadnesses.

I honestly think I could read about Shaun's book-buying tricks, issues with Abe orders, accounts of haggling and unusual customers, and reflections on the book trade indefinitely. As long as he continues to publish them, I'll keep reading them. Highly recommended, and having read the first book is not a requirement either.

As a bookseller I was excited to read this book. Its a quick read and interesting to see inside the life of a bookseller trading used books.

Black Books in the flesh!
A wonderful diary from a man that loves books as they ought to be loved, and creates a life lived within their proximities.
I rarely read non-fiction, preferring fantasy novels, but I laughed out loud at the descriptions in this diary, and commiserated with Shaun as he chronicles the absurdities of being a second hand bookseller.
Anyone that loves books, or perhaps enjoys Bill Bryson, will love this book. Recommended.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I read The Diary of a Bookseller early last year and absolutely loved it so I was excited to see that the sequel will be released in August 2019. I was lucky enough to be approved for a review copy on NetGalley and I am pleased to say that I loved this just as much. Having not finished a book since 1st May which is an unheard of amount of time for me, this was the perfect book to get me back into the rhythm of reading regularly.

Shaun Bythell has a quality to his writing that is so easy to read and keeps you turning pages. This is helped by the diary format and the endearing (and at times strange) ‘characters’. Reading this, I kept forgetting that this is non-fiction and I found myself laughing out loud at parts.

I love being in this world and would love to visit this bookshop one day. I hope that Bythell carries on publishing these as I thoroughly enjoy exploring the second-hand book selling world through his diaries.

CONFESSIONS OF A BOOKSELLER is an invitation to once more step inside The Bookshop, Scotland’s largest second-hand bookstore. With the same acerbic wit that made THE DIARY OF A BOOKSELLER a joy to read, Shaun Bythell again opens the pages of his diary to share his perspective on his quirky customers and even quirkier employees. Wigtown comes to life as a vibrant community, and I found Bythell’s spare description of the end of an important relationship particularly moving. This is a must-read for anyone who loves books. Order your copy now—from an indie bookstore, of course.

An absolutely adorable story with fun characters. Perfect for a leisurely summer day!
I am a huge fan of books about books and this novel was just what the doctor ordered.

Funny and entertaining I loved it. I think it would be good for anyone who wants to see life through tne eyes of those who sell books.